# Jazz — Genre

> Improvisational music. African-American origin. Sophisticated harmony, swing rhythm.

## Defining elements

- Swing rhythm (triplet feel) traditionally
- Improvisation central
- Complex harmony (extended chords: 7th, 9th, 11th, 13th)
- Walking bass lines
- Brass and woodwinds prominent
- Variable tempo

## Sub-types

- **Swing / Big Band** — 30s-40s (Duke Ellington, Count Basie)
- **Bebop** — 40s-50s, fast complex (Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie)
- **Cool jazz** — 50s relaxed (Miles Davis "Birth of the Cool")
- **Hard bop** — 50s-60s soul-influenced (Art Blakey)
- **Modal jazz** — 60s (Miles Davis "Kind of Blue")
- **Free jazz** — avant-garde (Ornette Coleman)
- **Fusion** — jazz + rock (Weather Report, Mahavishnu)
- **Smooth jazz** — radio-friendly (Kenny G — controversial)
- **Contemporary jazz** — modern (Robert Glasper, Snarky Puppy)

## Typical instrumentation

Saxophone / trumpet / trombone (lead) + piano + bass (upright traditionally) + drums + vocal (sometimes)

## Production characteristics

- Live band feel
- Acoustic instruments
- Room ambience
- Less production processing
- Improvisation captured

## Lyrics direction (when vocal)

- Standards (American Songbook)
- Romantic
- Wistful
- Sophisticated wordplay
- Often classic Tin Pan Alley

## For Suno

```
[Style: classic jazz combo, 120 BPM swing feel, F major with extended 
chords (7ths, 9ths), tenor saxophone lead + piano + upright bass walking + 
drums with brushes + occasional female alto vocal, smoky club atmosphere, 
improvisational feel]
```

## Examples

- Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Bill Evans
- Vocalists: Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan
- Modern: Esperanza Spalding, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington

## Avoid

- Auto-tune
- Quantized rhythm (kills swing)
- Simple chord progressions
- Modern pop production